School vandal: 'It just got out of hand'

WYOMING -- The brother and sister wrecking crew who say they teamed up with another teen to do more than $50,000 in damage to Wyoming Park High School this week were not just looking for a day off from classes. They said they were striking a blow against perceived injustice.

Wyoming Park students Tina Abbott, 15, and her 16-year-old brother, Robert, admit they joined a 16-year-old friend breaking into the school early Tuesday, destroying furniture, spilling chemicals and spray-painting references to Grandville High School to throw the police off their trail.

Courtesy PhotoTina Abbott, 15, is shown on Wyoming Park High School surveillance footage when she was inside the school, admittedly to commit vandalism, early Tuesday. See photos of damage

In an interview with The Press on Thursday, Tina Abbott said the trio intended to damage only classrooms of teachers whom they felt were unfair or disrespectful to them, but they got carried away.

"It just got out of hand," Tina Abbott said. "It went too far, and we're in a lot of trouble, obviously."

The three suspects, who turned themselves in to Wyoming police earlier this week, have not yet been charged with a crime. They face possible charges of breaking and entering and malicious destruction of property once police reports are sent to the Kent County Prosecutor's Office next week, authorities said.

Wyoming Police Chief James Carmody said they are likely to be charged as juveniles.

The three have been suspended from school for at least 10 days and face possible expulsion, administrators said.

The damage done was extensive, investigators say.

The chemicals that were spilled buckled the wood shop's floor, and it may be weeks before repairs can be made. The metal shop and another heavily damaged classroom remain closed until next week.

The vandalism resulted in classes being canceled Tuesday, but the Abbott siblings said closing school was not their motivation.

"We didn't do this for a day off," Robert Abbott said.

Earlier in the week, officials said the vandals stated that had been their goal.

Instead, the Abbotts said they were "unhappy with the staff."

The siblings said their mother had talked to school personnel about alleged problems, but the teens were frustrated when there was no resolution.

Superintendent Jon Felske said he never had any dealings with the accused students and could not comment specifically on their situation because of their ages and the fact no formal charges have been filed.

Felske said some students who draw a principal's attention may feel picked on, but there never has been a complaint against Wyoming Park staff that substantiated unfair treatment.

The three teens turned themselves in after they were recognized from the school surveillance images sent out by police. Despite attempts to disguise themselves in hats, masks and glasses, Tina Abbott said she received calls from friends and classmates who saw the images and knew it was her.

Tina Abbott said, early Tuesday morning, she and her brother and her friend, whose name has not been released, sneaked out of their homes, drove a few blocks to the school and broke in.

She said she and another friend also broke windows at the school on Jan. 31.

While decrying Tuesday's vandalism, the police chief praised the students' parents for bringing them to authorities, rather than trying to evade responsibility.

"A lot of parents would not have acted the same way," Carmody said.

Tina Abbott said her mother is extremely unhappy with her and pressured her to turn herself in.